Harold Bethel

Harold Bethel

Nov. 24, 1919 -- July 26, 2012

LEESBURG, Virginia -- Harold Bethel, 92, died July 26, 2012, in Leesburg, Virginia.

He was born born on Nov. 24, 1919, to Klee and Laura Fisher Bethel in Wilsonville, Nebraska.

At age 16, Harold managed the family farm near Wilsonville during the Depression following the death of his father. He graduated from Lebanon, Nebraska High School, where he was legendary for playing pranks on the teacher. He married Bonnie Heller in 1944. They were married for 53 years until her death in 1997. Harold farmed and ran a fleet of combines harvesting wheat in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota before purchasing a real estate and insurance business in McCook, Nebraska. In 1993, he moved to Aldie, Virginia. He was a member of the McCook Elks and Lions Clubs, Aldie Ruritans, and Aldie Methodist Church.

He is survived by daughters Cheryl Bethel Haakenson of Anchorage, Alaska and Marla McIntyre of Aldie, Virginia; sister, Wilma Olson of Des Moines, Iowa; brother, Donald Bethel of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren, Paulson McIntyre of Sterling, Virginia, Laura McIntyre of Phoenix, Arizona, Brittany Duff of Chicago, Illinois, and Bonnie Leigh of Kansas City, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Aug. 12, 2012, at 2 pm at Aldie Methodist Church. A memorial service and interment will be in Wilsonville, Nebraska at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Aldie Methodist Church, PO Box 343, Aldie, VA 20105 or a charity of your choice.